THE LOUISIANA NATIVE GUARDS
Submitted by Jim Hollandsworth
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Copyright. All rights reserved.
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The first black soldiers in the Union Army during the Civil War.
The Corps d'Afrique at Port Hudson.
FOOTNOTE
The 1st Regiment of the Louisiana Native Guards was sworn into service on
September 27, 1862. The 2nd and 3rd Regiments were organized
during October and November, respectively.
Actually, the Native Guards were not the first black soldiers to volunteer.
Major General David Hunter had raised a regiment of black men at
Hilton Head, South Carolina, during the spring of 1862, but it was not
formally recognized as part of the Union Army. Hunter disbanded the unit
on August 9, two weeks prior to Benjamin F. Butler's call for black recruits
in New Orleans. Although Secretary of War Edwin Stanton finally
authorized Hunter's enlistment of black troops, the 1st South Carolina
Volunteers did not complete their reorganization until January 31, 1863.
Consequently, the Native Guards were the first black soldiers to be officially
mustered into the Union Army during the Civil War.
It should also be noted that Senator Jim Lane began recruiting the 1st
Regiment of Kansas Colored Volunteers in August 1862. Although this
unit engaged in combat as early as October, it was not mustered into federal
service until January 13, 1863, making it the fourth black regiment
to enter the United States Army. The famous 54th Massachusetts Infantry did
not complete its organization until May 13, 1863, almost eight
months after the 1st Regiment of the Native Guards was sworn into service.
Finally, a "Black Brigade" was organized in September 1862 in
Cincinnati, Ohio, to construct fortifications. However, the three regiments in
this brigade were not armed, nor were they given uniforms, and
when the threat of a Confederate invasion ended, they were disbanded.
A Brief History
Work hard, stay out of trouble, and you will succeed. These words reflect the
up-by-the- boot-straps philosophy of American society. It is a noble creed,
but one that is followed inconsistently. In many instances, hard work is
viewed with suspicion; success is perceived as a threat.
That scenario applies to Louisiana's celebrated regiment of black men during
the Civil War: the Native Guards. The story of the Native Guards began with
their enrollment as part of the Louisiana militia and ended with their
participation in the civil rights movement during Reconstruction. As a militia
unit, the Native Guards paraded with Confederate troops and sought to
contribute to the Southern cause in other ways. After the fall of New Orleans,
many of the officers and some of the men embraced the Old Flag by forming the
first officially-sanctioned black regiment in the Union Army. During the war,
the Native Guards fought at Port Hudson, Mansura, and Mobile. They also
guarded prisoners, built fortifications, and contributed to the Union war
effort in numerous other ways. Their service in the Union Army was as
honorable as it was controversial. When the war ended, veterans of the Native
Guards entered a third phase of their unusual career when they took up the
struggle for black civil rights.
The war and its aftermath provided the men of Louisiana's Native Guards with
the opportunity to earn the right to be treated as equals in a free society.
However, at every turn their attempt to achieve equality was rebuffed. The
Confederate authorities used them to counter northern propaganda, but never
intended to let them fight. The Union Army let them fight, but made them
dig ditches when their capacity for fighting became evident. During
reconstruction, whites accepted them for their labor, but repudiated their
quest for equal rights. Pawns of three governments, the men of the Native
Guards worked hard and did their duty, but as one of their officers wrote to
his mother from Port Hudson in April 1864, "Nobody really desires our
success[,] and it's uphill work."
INTRODUCTION
Three new accounts of the Native Guards at Port Hudson provide additional
details regarding their assault on May 27, 1863, and other information related
to their service during the campaign. Although literally not "new," for these
accounts have been around some time, they came to light after the book was
published. The author is grateful to Mr. Greg Potts at the Port Hudson
State Commemorative Area for sharing this material with him.
WILLIAM LOGAN RODMAN DIARY
HARVARD MEMORIAL BIOGRAPHIES
"Tuesday, May 26, 9 o'clock, a. m."
I have just had a stirring hour, occasioned by the arrival of Colonel Nelson
with his native Louisianian (black) infantry, one thousand strong, who halted
in our midst awhile, and attracted much attention. I was interested to see
how my men would regard such neighbors, and was glad to see there was not much
merriment and no contempt, even among the Irishmen. The general impression was
that they were a fine lot of men, and will fight. Colonel Nelson and all his
officers are convinced they are to distinguish themselves; and Nelson tells me
he and his niggers, according to the programme, are to make the assault, and
he has no doubt of his colors being taken into the town first. If they will
fight, and Port Hudson falls, the great problem of "Will the blacks fight?"
will be solved forever. It is a question of vast interest.
THE WALTER STEPHENS TURNER DIARY
39th MISSISSIPPI INFANTRY
PORT HUDSON, MAY-JULY, 1863
May 27, 1863 - Wednesday
The enemy made a charge this morning on Miles Legion, some with scaling
ladders in their hands. They were driven back three times with heavy loss.
There were also several charges made on the 15th Arkansas and 1st Mississippi,
and on the extreme left were two negro regiments, who charged us. We drove
them back and cut them all to pieces. Some of our boys went over and
searched the negroes and found in the pocket of the first negro who was [a]
Captain, his commission and eight dollars in green backs. He was mustered in
the Service of the U. S. On the 20th of September, 1862, at New Orleans. The
Captain's name was Andrew Coillon [Cailloux], they have never been able to get
them to make another charge, (that is the negroes.) There were in all fifteen
charges made on our line today. The old 39th is the first Regiment that has
ever fought against negroes in this way; at least it is the first Regiment
that has been charged by the negroes. They . . . sent in a flag of truce twice
this P. M. to bury their dead, but General Gardener did not recognize it as
such. The grand rascals are just trying to find out our force or they are up
to some trick, so General Gardener thinks. . . It has rained very hard during
the day and I got as wet as water.
May 28, 1863 - Thursday
We have been fighting off and on all day and night until 10 O'clock P. M. The
enemy have sent in another flag of truce to bury their dead. General Gardner
granted it for four hours. Our loss does not exceed 120 and from the report of
one of their field officers their army is weakened by 1500 men, that includes
killed and wounded.
They have sent in another flag of truce wanting the time prolonged for five
hours longer which brings it until 2 o'clock P. M. It has been granted. Our
company has lost but one man during the fight. The enemy have buried all their
white men and left the negroes to melt in the sun. That shows how much they
care for the poor ignorant creatures. After they are killed fighting their
battles, having done all they can for the Federals then for them to let the
bodies of the poor creatures lie and melt in their own blood and to be made
the prey of both birds and beasts.
June 28, 1863 - Sunday
Old Banks praised his 1st colored Regiment of Louisiana National Guard to the
highest. Trying to encourage them by saying they fought like men, went into
battle with 900 men and came out with 300, saying that the number they came
out with went to prove that they fought admirably well. But they can't say
enough of such as that to get them to charge those works again. If they
are Negroes they have more sense than that. They know they never did any such
fighting as Old Banks represents them to have done in his report.
July 11, 1863 - Saturday
It is quite warm today. I expect a rain. The Yanks are dashing around as
usual. And the great buck negroes are walking around their posts as big as
life. Since we have been prisoners there have been several negroes knocked
down by our men for their impudence. We are not paroled yet.
P. F. DeGOURNAY'S ACCOUNT
THE SIEGE OF PORT HUDSON"
NEW ORLEANS WEEKLY TIMES
The Negro Charge
It was during the first grand attack on the 27th of May, that the famous
charge by negro troops was made, about which so much has been said in army
orders and by the press at large. Two negro regiments under Colonel Paine,
with a line of white troops behind them, came out of the willow swamp on the
extreme left, close to the river, and which was separated by a clearing of six
or seven hundred feet [yards?] from a line of rifle-pits we had dug in the
bluffs, where two small mountain howitzers were also in position. The negroes
came up in fine order. Charging at a double-quick as soon as they reached
clear ground. A party of skirmishers, concealed in a little copse on their
flank, fired upon them, while they were saluted in front by a volley from the
rifle-pits and the simultaneous discharge of the howitzers. The head of the
advancing column was shattered by this fire, and the poor fellows, seeing
their comrades fall by the dozen, broke and ran to cover among the willows. We
had the range of this willow swamp, and two heavy guns on the river front were
immediately turned upon it and shelled it for several hours, tearing the
slender willows into splinters and causing much slaughter. Over two hundred
and fifty blacks were counted, dead or too badly wounded to crawl out of
sight. The nearest to our rifle-pits were about two hundred yards. Foremost
among them was a young mulatto name Pierre Caillow [Cailloux], a native of New
Orleans, who was recognized by some of our boys who hailed from that city. He
wore a captain's uniform and his commission, signed by General Butler, was
found in his pocket. This was the first and last we saw of the negro troops
during the siege of Port Hudson. How many of the poor wretches perished in the
fatal trap into which they had been so unwisely driven I cannot say. In
conversation with Federal officers and men after the surrender I have heard
the number estimated as high as six hundred.
Horrid Scene of War
During that day and the next we could hear the groans of the wounded that had
fallen among the willows, and the dead lay festering in the hot sun, creating
a sickening stench. Unable to stand this, some of our boys started the next
morning on a blackberrying expedition, as they styled it with grim pleasantry.
They found a wounded negro among the dead, under the willows. He was suffering
excruciating torture from several wounds. They gave the poor fellow some
water, and lifting him with tender hands, placed him on a blanket and carried
him to the hospital. He recovered enough strength to whisper a few grateful
words, but life was nearly extinct and he died two hours after being admitted
into the hospital.
THE FIELD OF BATTLE AT PORT HUDSON TODAY: Captions of some photograph
located in Sept. 1998 at http://www2.netdoor.com/%7Ejgh/today.html
Photo: Where the Native Guards charged on May 27, 1863.
Photo: The ground over which the Naitve Guards charged on May
27, 1863. This area was bare of trees in 1863. The high ground to the right
was the "outwork" along which the Confederates had posted sharpshooters.
Photo: Telegraph Road as it appears today. See the panoramic view
on the previous to compare the foliage in 1863 with that today.
Photo: Big Sandy Creek. The Native Guards crossed a 280-foot pontoon bridge
here to make their assault. The water in Big Sandy Creek as seen here in
November 1997 is very low compared to its level in May 1863.
Photo: Under the "outwork," where some of the Native Guards sought refuge
after the assault. Confederate Colombiads in the water battery on the river
could hit them here.
THE "FORGOTTEN COMMAND" ON SHIP ISLAND
The First and Third Regiments of the Louisiana Native Guards eventually
received recognition for their role in the battle at Port Hudson in May 1863.
But what of their brother unit, the Second Louisiana Native Guards? Where were
they? Why weren't they involved?
Actually, the Second beat the First and Third in proving to themselves, and to
white "sneerers" opposed to black troops, that blacks COULD and WOULD fight.
On April 9th, six weeks before the Port Hudson assault, a portion of the
Second Regiment saw action at Pascagoula, Mississippi, where a small force of
Confederates was in control. Though eventually outnumbered after a four hour
running battle and forced to retreat, the men fought valiantly: "my men fought
nobly and whipped as fair a fight without cover -- whilst the enemy were in
houses and the woods, five times their number," stated their colonel,
Nathan W. Daniels.
Daniels kept a journal during his command of the 2nd LaNG. This diary, found
in the attic of a Massachusetts house, has recently come to light giving us
details of what it was like as a white commanding officer of one of the
earliest black regiments in the War. With remote duty at Forts Pike and McComb
as well as on Ship Island, Mississippi, ten miles off the coast in the Gulf
of Mexico, Daniels's troops were basically forgotten -- including their
"fifteen minutes" of glory at Pascagoula. Their assignment was to maintain the
post and its Fort Massachusetts in a "defensible condition," monitor ship
activity during the North's blockade of Southern ports, and guard prisoners
sent out from the mainland.
Though overshadowed by the First and Third Regiments, and generally ignored by
historians, it is interesting that of the seventy-six black officers who
served in the Native Guards, the majority of those active in the pursuit of
their civil rights after the war, came from Colonel Daniels's regiment.
The previously forgotten Second Louisiana Native Guards have a tale to tell.
THE NATIVE GUARDS' ARRIVAL AT SHIP ISLAND
INTRODUCTION
This account of the 2nd Regiment's arrival at Ship Island is an example of the
prejudice the Native Guards experienced in the Union Army. A transcript of
Col. Rust's diary is at the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs,
Mississippi. The author is grateful to Ms. Gail Bishop for providing a
photocopy of this material and to Ms. Kitty Weaver for alerting him to its
existence.
THE LT. COL. HENRY RUST DIARY
13th MAINE INFANTRY
SHIP ISLAND, JANUARY 12-20, 1863
January 12, 1863 -- Monday
Morning. A steamer has just come to the Wharf with nigger troops on board,
evidently to relieve us. Oh Lord!
January 13, 1863 -- Tuesday
"Nigger on the brain." No, I have not got that. It has struck to my stomach
and gone all over me. The feeling of certainty that I have got to leave my two
good Companies here to come into collision with these niggers has made me feel
homesick, and I have serious thoughts of resigning.
I went to see them drill the Battalion this afternoon. The Adjutant conducted
the exercise, neither field officer being present. There was some good
marching but the other exercises were indifferently done.
January 14, 1863 -- Wednesday
I have made the Colonel [of the Native Guards] promise that if I leave my men
he will assign them duties by themselves under their own officers, not
bringing them at all into collision with his. Still I expect there will be
trouble, and think my men will be demoralized thereby.
January 20, 1863 -- Tuesday
The steamer came to the Wharf at 2 P. M. And I put my Staff, their baggage and
Quarter master and Commissary stores on board. Their [departure leaves]
command of Ship island to Col. Daniel 2nd Louisiana Native Guards,
Good Bye Ship Island.
My only regret at leaving is that I must leave my two Companies there to the
tender mercies of a Colonel [of] Niggers which, if appearances are a true
indication, will not be very tender.
COLONEL DANIELS' DIARY
The Civil War's original corps of officers found in the Louisiana Native
Guards has been dimissed in the past as being inconsequential -- because "they
did not last." It is precisely their brief existence, however, that magnifies
their importance. It is their struggle for survival that tells the story of
the military environment of the day. They did not last because of prejudicial
conditions in both civilian and military arenas, with discrimination in the
latter at all levels of white personnel, from enlisted men to commanding
generals. Some of the more enlightened whites with abolitionist tendencies
tolerated black troops, but even for some of them the presence of black
officers was considered going too far. A white army lieutenant graduate of
West Point, with several years of experience under his belt before the war,
was not going to pay heed to a recently appointed black captain of
questionable education and background.
Colonel Daniels's command of the Second Regiment was brief. Seven months after
the unit's muster in the fall of 1862, he was arrested on minor charges and
later removed. The reason? He supported his men. More specifically, he
supported his black officers in a disciplinary action against white troops on
Ship Island who refused to obey the black leaders. This was a radical move for
the times and one that drew attention to the abolitionist colonel like a
lightening rod. From that point on, Daniels was being watched, monitored by
others in the Department of the Gulf who opposed black officers. The latter
were considered to be the problem, demoralizing both camps, when white and
black regiments were posted together. The colonel, on the other hand, felt the
officers were not the problem; it was the prejudicial military department.
Daniels's diary contains a rare narrative from someone of his rank and
position, bringing to life his sensitive personal struggle. The
responsibilities and frustrations of being between the black and white
military worlds of the period weighed heavily on him as commanding officer.
His greatest challenge with the regiment was defending his men's right to
prove themselves as officers and soldiers in the Union Army.
The author of these notes, C. P. Weaver, has edited Col. Daniels' diary for
publication. The diary contains extremely rare photographs of the Native
Guards on Ship Island as well as a detailed account of what it was like to be
stationed there. Daniels's diary is being published by LSU Press and it will
be available through Amazon Books in July 1998.
COL. DANIELS' SPEECH AFTER PASCAGOULA
Headquarters, Ship Island, Miss.*
April 10th, 1863
Fellow soldiers
For the first time in your military existence have you experienced the glories
and the dangers of the battle field.
You have known what it is to meet the enemy face to face, and to overcome five
times your numbers in a hotly contested action.--
You have snuffed the perfume of Powder--heard the key note of the bullets
shrill music and are now conscious of the attractions and the horrors of grim
visaged war.--
You have tested the question of your nations valor, and demonstrated to it
fullest extent the capacity--the bravery--the endurance and the nobility of
your race, and taught the malignant foe that a centuries oppression has not
extinguished your manhood or suppressed your love of liberty, and that you
have still a hand to wield the sword, and a heart to vitalize its blow.
Proudly have you borne the banner of Freedom--the delight of the true
warrior's soul--through the thickest of the fray--its folds pierced and
pierced with the leaden hail--without paling a star or defacing a stripe--its
tattered condition the true emblem of your work, and your brave endeavors.
Heroes have you proven yourselves in the strife--nobly sustaining your
countries honor and gloriously maintaining the valor of your profile. The
brave ones, whose spirits winged their way to brighter spheres during the
fierce struggle, are true martyrs in the holy cause of Freedom.-- They have
offered themselves nobly upon the shrine of their countries existence, and
their deeds are their glory--their glory their reward.-- Their names shall
deck the page of history, and their process emblazon the escutcheon of our
coming Republic.
Though moldering now within the silent Tomb, yet ever their souls as noble and
as great as e'er rise to heaven from The battle field. Their spirits as brave
as ever e'er unwrapped by clayey tenement.--
Let us then Remember their fate and their Reward.-- Let the name "Pascagoula"
be wrought within the folds of our colors--a Page in the history of our
career, an emblem of our achievement and an ernest of what the world may
expect of those whose first deeds have been so valorous, whose acts have been
so brave.--
Your Colonel,
Nathan W. Daniels.
OTHER NEW DISCOVERIES
RECRUITING DUTY
Dr. Banjamin A. Fordyce's letters have just been published under the title
Echoes: From the Letters of a Civil War Surgeon (Bayou Publishing, 1996). On
September 2, 1863 (p. 67), Dr. Fordyce describes a black soldier from the
1st Regiment of the Native Guards on recruiting duty near LaFourche Crossing,
Louisiana.
"Yesterday I saw a negro recruiting colored men for the First Louisiana
Regiment - This Regiment was the one so awfully cut up at Port Hudson. This
Negro's Name is Lewis - He was wounded in the leg and relieved from duty in
regiment and sent out recruiting - I thought I had seen men that could make a
patriotic appeal to their countrymen before, in behalf of our country and
the interest and necessities that should impel men to do Military service for
their Government but when I saw this colored man who had been wounded at Port
Hudson had two brothers killed in the same battle another and his last and
only brother now in hospital with his wounds received in the same battle A man
who was born a slave and had been a slave till within a year past who had left
a wife and family of children to fight for a government that had never
guaranteed to him a single right above that of a hog or a horse till within
one year past - when I heard him appeal to every strong bodied colored man he
met; with an earnestness that secured seventy three in three days entirely
alone and took them into quarters - hurrying from place to place, inviting,
urging everyman he met to come right along and join the army pointing to his
own sacrificies that he had already made and the inestimable privilege of
owning himself and family as the reward - I admit I felt ashamed of all the
feeble efforts I had made to recruit the army - I felt satisfied that an
element of strength has been developed and brought to the aid of our
government of which we had no adequate idea - In my opinion this element now
so thoroughly aroused in the colored man is never again to be brutalized; It
begins to realize its own strength and the fullness of its power - Could you
see the joy expressed and the willingness to do anything to get a living
manifested by the blacks it would be gratify you beyond measure."
THE MASSACRE AT JACKSON, LOUISIANA
Celine Fremaux Garcia's reminiscences were published in 1987 by the University
of Georgia Press as Celine: Remembering Louisiana, 1850-1871. On pages 131-32,
Celine writes about the time she unexpectedly came across the bodies of two
black soldiers who were captured near Jackson, Louisiana, and later executed
as prisoners of war. (See pages 70-71 of The Louisiana Native Guards for more
information about this incident.)
"After the little battle in Jackson quite a number of niggers had become
separated from their command. They knew the law: All slaves taken armed
against whites were hung or shot. So they wandered about the woods for some
days. Some of them, no doubt, found their way back to Port Hudson. Others were
caught by the soldiers and summarily executed. I knew this was done but of
course I never saw an execution. I knew they took place in the woods. The
vagueness of the spot made all of the woods a place of dread after dark. "
"It happened that one of the children was quite sick, and Ma sent me with one
of the little ones for Dr. Jones. It was not exactly night, but deep dusk, a
November day, Leon was away from home. To cut short we went through the
college campus to the pine thicket behind the main building. I saw something
moving and nearly lost my strength! Just before me, a little to one side,
two niggers were hung to a tree limb, their feet just clear of the ground. I
hid the sight from Paul with my skirt, tried to run, then tried to speak, but
my tongue was frozen and my legs like cotton. Only the fear of Paul seeing
gave me strength to move on. The horror -- to me -- was having them at my
back. Cold chills ran up and down my spine. I thought I heard them moan, then
laugh, then shriek. When fairly in sight of the doctor's house I had to stop
and collect myself. I had almost forgotten what I came to ask. When I became
composed I went on, got the doctor's instructions and started off by way of
the big road. Doctor called out to take the short cut but I toild him no, I
preferred the long way, as it was lighter. The next day he remarked to Ma
that he was glad I had taken the long way, for he had come the short cut and,
seeing the hung men, knew I would have been frightened. Ma told him I had seen
them going, and he could not get over it, that I had not asked some one to see
us home. Thus I got a reputation for bravery, very little deserved, but which
kept me ever striving to retain it. I was frightened many times after that,
but no one ever knew it. I thought I owed it to Father and Grandfather to be
as brave as a solider."
NATIVE GUARDS BURIED AT CHALMETTE
History of the Cemetery
The Chalmette National Cemetery is a 17.5 acre strip of land that sits
adjacent to the site of the Battle of New Orleans along the Mississippi River
in Chalmette, Louisiana. The cemetery, which is closed to future burials, has
more than 15,300 interments from every major U.S. conflict between the
American Revolution and Vietnam. While most of the individuals interred are
veterans, civilians such as spouses, children, and employees of the War
Department are also included.
The Cemetery was established in May of 1864 as a final resting place for Civil
War dead, both Confederate and Union soldiers alike. Approximately 132
Confederate prisoners of war were buried at Chalmette until the Ladies'
Benevolent Association of New Orleans requested that these soldiers be moved
out of Chalmette, which is comprised entirely of Union soldiers, to the
Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans. In the years following the war, the
cemetery took in an additional 7,000 interments of Union soldiers moved from
abandoned cemeteries located all over southern Louisiana, Ship Island, and
Mississippi. Civil War burials at Chalmette number well over 12,000, but
almost 7,000 are unknown. (Courtesy of the U. S. Civil War Center)
Veterans of the Native Guards in the Chalmette National Cemetery
One-hundred and thirteen black soldiers in the Native Guards are known to be
buried at Chalmette. Some were reinterred there after the war from their
original graves at Fort Pike or on Ship Island. Others were hospitalized in
New Orleans during the war and were buried at Chalmette when they died. The
remainder survived the war and asked to be buried in the Chalmette National
Cemetery as veterans. The last burial of a veteran of the Native Guards at
Chalmette occurred on October 12, 1929, just two and a half weeks before
"Black Friday," the stock market crash, and the beginning of the great
depression.
On April 19, 1864, the unit designation for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Regiments of
the Corps d'Afrique, formerly the Louisiana Native Guards, was changed to the
73rd, 74th, and 75th Infantry, United States Colored Troops, respectively. The
grave markers at Chalmette bear this designation.
LAST NAME FIRST SEC STONE RK CO RGT DIED ORIG
ACE THOMAS 157 12424 PVT H 74 4/30/03
ADALIN JOHN 155 12623 PVT I 74 7/29/13
ALFRED EDGAR 154 12462 PVT F 74 1/17/05
ALLEN AMOS 152 12369 PVT K 73 4/28/92
ALLEN ANDREW 149 12228 PVT K 73 4/28/92
ANDERSON AUGUST 155 12619 PVT B 73 5/8/13
ANNIAS HILLIARD 122 10020 PVT B 73 1/3/65
AUGUSTINE JACQUES 150 12272 PVT E 73 7/26/95
AUGUSTINE JACQUES 155 12651 CPL H 73 8/31/14
BACCHUS JOSEPH 153 12531 PVT E 74 5/13/08
BAPTISTE BELEINE J. 153 12577 PVT E 73 11/13/10
BAPTISTE CHARLES 157 12821 PVT 73 11/23/24
BARNES DOCTOR 146 11729 PVT E 75 6/26/64
BARRETT WILLIAM B. 158 12737 CPT B 74 4/13/18
BELENSON PAUL 149 12231 DRM 74 9/6/92
BELL WESLEY 152 12330 PVT K 74 4/5/98
BENNETT JAMES 151 12372 PVT K 74 2/24/00
BESSEX ISAAC 122 9965 PVT I 73 5/4/65
BOSS WILLIAM 153 12561 PVT K 74 10/30/09
BOWMAN BENJAMINE 139 11241 PVT H 75 6/4/64
BRADLEY HENRY 155 12647 1SG F 73 6/30/14
BROWN EDWARD 154 12466 PVT I 75 4/9/05
BURNETT MATHEW 146 11767 PVT B 74 8/5/64
CARRIER AUGUSTIN 150 12317 PVT E 73 10/30/94
CARTER HENRY 123 10134 PVT I 73 3/9/65
CEA CHARLES 126 10372 PVT A 74 6/1/65 FORT PIKE
CHASE FOSTER 158 12747 CPL A 75 10/16/18
CHENEAU VICTOR 150 12274 PVT E 73 9/30/95
CLAIRMOND A. 150 12278 PVT D 75 11/29/95
COLEMAN DANIEL 154 12461 PVT A 74 1/10/05
COOPER GOFF 131 10862 PVT D 75 11/22/64
COOPER HIRAM 124 10175 RCT 74 4/13/65
CUBBIN EDWARD 126 10371 PVT A 74 ?
DANDRIGE ROBERT 157 12449 CPL F 73 7/9/02
DEJEAN GEORGE 122 9959 B 73 5/2/65
DELILE ANTOINE 157 12417 PVT G 74 12/9/02
DREW THOMAS 154 12488 PVT F 74 7/14/06
DREY JOSEPH 153 12600 PVT H 75 5/23/12
DURAN JOHN 157 12455 CPL E 73 8/4/04
EDWARD PETER 150 12254 PVT B 74 7/16/94
EDWARDS GEORGE 123 10054 PVT B 75 12/17/64
ENGLAND GEORGE 123 10058 PVT G 73 12/20/64
FAGO FONSTINNE 131 10858 PVT H 75 11/18/64
FELIX JOSEPH 150 12315 1SG D 73 9/27/97
FERRAND MYSTILE 150 12316 CPL E 74 10/26/97
FILLE JOSEPH 154 12511 SGT E 73 8/12/07
FORD SAMUEL 154 12515 PVT I 73 9/14/07
FRANCOIS JEAN 154 12563 C 73 1/28/05
GALLE ALFRED 153 12565 PVT H 73 12/4/09
GASPARD ARTHUR 154 12510 CPL B 73 7/31/07
GRANT W.H 6 138- 509 PVT H 74 ? SHIP ISLAND
HAGGERTY DANIEL 152 12411 PVT D 75 6/13/02
HAMILTON STEPHEN 122 9969 PVT A 73 5/7/65
HAMILTON WADE 121 9900 PVT C 75 6/25/65
HARDIN WILLIAM 155 12616 2LT I 75 4/15/13
HARRIS FRANK 121 9933 PVT B 74 7/2/65
HEGWOOD FRANK 118 9623 PVT F 73 9/12/65
HENRY WILLIAM 124 10146 PVT A 75 3/22/65
HUNT RANDALL 158 12401 PVT A 73 3/7/02
JAMES WILLIAM 6 138- 510 PVT H 74 SHIP ISLAND
JOHNSON HARRISON 118 9622 PVT G 73 9/11/65
JOHNSON JAMES 150 12249 PVT B 74 4/10/94
JOHNSON JORRON 126 10368 PVT A 74 11/21/64
JONES WILLIAM 118 9648 PVT B 73 3/19/65
JULIAN STEPHEN 130 10727 RCT 75 10/4/64
KILBURN BEVERLY 123 10066 PVT A 73 12/27/64
KING JOHN 124 10165 PVT ? 75 3/31/65
LABOO CELESTINE 123 10049 PVT H 75 12/14/64
LAMOIS J.B. 155 12667 PVT G 74 3/29/15
LARNE JAMES 158 12391 SGT E 75 5/17/01
LAWRENCE WILLIAM 159 12833 PVT H 74 10/12/29
LEWIS VICTOR 130 10784 PVT C 75 12/5/64
MACK ELI 153 12566 PVT N 74 2/7/12
MANUEL JOSEPH 152 12351 PVT B 73 2/21/99
MORGAN JULIAN 152 12359 CPL B 74 7/23/99
NELSON JOHN 150 12280 SGT F 73 1/20/96
PALM ISRAEL 149 12222 PVT A 73 10/25/91
PAYNE CALVIN 152 12350 PVT C 75 1/9/99
PETERSON DAVID 126 10370 PVT A 74 3/8/65
PHILPS HELER 152 12410 PVT H 74 6/12/02
PIERRE JACQUIES 154 12506 PVT E 74 6/17/07
PIERSON WILLIAM 6 138- 511 CPL 74 ? SHIP ISLAND
PINKNEY SAMUEL 143 12243 SGT F 74 2/13/94
PLEASANT SAMUEL 126 10369 PVT A 74 11/1/64 FORT PIKE
RAY DANIEL 155 12662 PVT R 73 12/24/24
REDWOOD THOMAS 158 12705 CPL I 73 8/6/16
RENIER JOHN 126 10377 PVT 74 12/1864
ROBINSON WEALEY 151 12312 PVT I 73 7/25/97
ROSE JOHN 151 12379 PVT H 74 8/16/00
ROSHA DAVIS 153 12604 PVT D 75 8/3/12
ROSS GEORGE 150 12259 CPL K 74 11/23/94
RUBIN HENRY 151 12380 PVT C 74 9/11/00
SANDERS GEORGE 130 10774 PVT C 75 11/29/64
SCOTLAND HENRY 153 12558 PVT F 75 9/15/09
SHEPHERD NELSON 123 10069 PVT H 75 1/4/65
SHEPPARD RICHARD 154 12541 SGT F 74 10/1/08
SMITH CALVIN 126 10384 PVT C 74 7/2/65
SMITH CELESTINE 149 12235 PVT H 74 6/18/93
SMITH LEWIS 139 11242 PVT C 74 6/4/64
SMITH REUBEN 139 11276 PVT K 73 7/6/64
SMITH ROBERT 158 12700 PVT F 73 5/19/16
SOLOMON EUGENE 147 11656 PVT C 73 5/29/64
SPALDING WILLIAM 143 12238 SGT K 73 12/17/93
SPRIVEY ISAAC 121 9876 PVT A 73 1/20/65
THOMAS ALCA 155 12654 PVT K 74 10/6/14
TRUHILL JOSEPH 147 11657 PVT A 75 5/29/64
VICTOR JOHN 157 12416 PVT G 74 10/31/02
WATSON ISAAC 146 11739 PVT G 75 6/28/64
WILLIAMS MOSES 146 11726 PVT E 74 6/22/64
YOUNG DANDRIDGE 151 12375 PVT G 74 4/29/00
YOUNG ISAAC 6 138-520 PVT E 74 ? SHIP ISLAND
ZERRON HILLAIRE 155 12649 PVT E 73 6/20/14
THE NATIVE GUARDS' CONFEDERATE ORIGINS
FIRST NEGRO REGIMENT
Was Raised in New Orleans for the Confederacy.
Offered Their Services, But Didn't Fight.
RECENT DISCOVERY
New Orleans Daily States, May 24, 1903.
Some War Department officials were considerably surprised a few days ago while
compiling the list of soldiers who served during the civil war, to discover
that a regiment of negroes had been mustered into the Confederate service from
New Orleans, says a New Orleans correspondent of the New York [Times?].
This discovery has been described as bringing to light a forgotten
incident of civil war history.
There has been especial comment on the fact that the Confederate
States should have enlisted negro soldiers first, and nearly a year ahead of
the United States.
It is, of course, well known that the Confederate Cabinet during the
last years of the war, seriously discussed the advisability of arming the
negro slaves and enlisting them to drive back the Northern invaders, the
slaves to be rewarded with freedom for their services. Mr. Davis is said
to have favored the plan, which was proposed only when the outlook for the
Confederacy was desperate, and to have abandoned it, not because he
distrusted the negroes, but because it was pointed out that to take them from
the farms would be to deprive the South of its food supply.
But although the war department has dug up this interesting and
forgotten fact of the organization of a negro Confederate regiment, it has
succeeded in collecting very little information on the subject. It has found,
for instance[,] the roll of but a single company, commanded by Louis Lainez,
and it has been unable to get any definite information even as to that
company.
It is not possible to give all the story of this regiment, for much
of it has been lost in time, but as far as it goes it is interesting, and
especially interesting just now in view of the attention being given
throughout the country to the relations of the whites and the negroes. It will
throw some light on these relations during the period of slavery. . .
There is little reason to doubt that the colored men who organized a
regiment intended to fight for the Confederate cause. Had they done so, had
they been allowed to do so, it would not only have been a curious incident,
but it might have had important effects. Thus Jefferson Davis might have
conceived the idea of arming the negroes at the beginning of the Civil War
instead of near the end of the struggle, when it was too late.
The Native Guards, however, were treated with a scant courtesy that
killed any enthusiasm they might have felt for the Confederate cause. They
were sworn in and mustered out of the service and called back again only in
the last few desperate days before the capture of the City by Farragut's
fleet.
Four months after his occupation of the City, Butler took up the
work where the Confederates had dropped it. He saw the possibility of
utilizing the free men of color who had some military education and discipline
and on August 2, 1862 [sic] he issued an order calling on all members of the
Native Guards to enlist in the service of the United States.
None of the men who had taken prominent part in the organization of
this regiment in the Confederate service re-enlisted on the other side, but
some of the rank and file did. The First Louisiana Native Guards was organized
with Lieutenant Colonel Bassett in command and with all other officers
colored. The regiment fought with courage and distinction at Port Hudson,
where one of the captains, Andre Caillioux [sic], lost his life, and became a
hero of the negro troops.
Nor did the colored men who took part in the organization of the
negro regiment for the Confederate service have any share in the organization
of the Republican party in Louisiana, and in the period of Reconstruction, and
it is unfortunate for the negroes that they did not. They were men of
property, many of them of education, and they might have led their people in a
much better cause than the negro gamblers, bootblacks, barbers and stable boys
who joined the Carper- baggers to install the horrors of Reconstruction.
The freemen of color would never have permitted the excesses which
followed for they were generally friendly to the whites. Only one of the
organizers and officers of the Confederate Native Guards, Arnold Bertonneau,
took part in post-bellum politics. He was a member of the Constitutional
Convention of April 1868, which gave Louisiana its first Reconstruction
Constitution.
The military spirit of the negroes died out with the Civil War. Even
during Republican days no success was met with in organizing a negro militia.
Under Democratic regime several negro militia companies were organized, the
last survival being a company named in honor of General Beauregard's
son-in-law.
A few years ago the Militia Act passed by the Louisiana Legislature
suppressed the independent companies and got rid of the negro militia. Thus it
is that while Louisiana had militia companies during all the days of slavery,
when one of its negro regiments fought bravely during the war of 1812 and
another offered its services in the Southern cause in the Civil War, today
with all the negroes free, there is no negro military organization of any
kind.
MUSTER ROLL OF THE NATIVE GUARDS, C.S.A.
Muster roll of unasigned recruits,
1st New Orleans Volunteers,* August 31, 1864.
*The 1st New Orleans Volunteers was a white Union regiment organized in
March 1864 to defend the Crescent City while Nathaniel P. Banks was away with
his army during the Red River Campaign.
The 1st New Orleans Volunteers was not part of the Louisiana Native
Guards, CSA or USA, and this representation of its muster roll is used here
for illustrative purposes only.
* - Name appears on the muster roll of Butler's 1st Regiment of Native Guards,
U.S.A.
# - Name appears on the list of volunteers for Banks's "Folorn Hope" at Port
Hudson.
NAME RANK
Abelard, Joseph Sergeant
Achille, Joseph Private
Adam, Ariste Private
Adam, Manuel Private
Adam, Emile Private
Adolphe, Joseph Private
Albrier, Jean not available
Albrier, Patrisse not available
Alcide, Joseph Private
Alcine, Louis Private
Alexis, Joseph Private
Allian, Jean Private
Allougas, Gustave Private
Alpuente, Florian Private
Alagas, Jerome Private
Alvez, Louis not available
Amant, J. Private
Amedae, Archille Private
Andre, Theodore Private
Angelain, G. Private
Angelain, L. Private
Anson, Faustin Private
Antoine, Arthur Corporal
Antoine, Eugene Private
Antoine, Joseph Private
Aquillard, Belcourt Corporal
Armand, Adolphe Private
Armand, J.* Private
Armand, Joseph not available
Armand, Theo Private
Armant, Dieydonne Private
Armstrong, Joseph Private
Arnot, St. Leger Private
Arril, Prosper Private
Ascensio,Joseph Private
Athenor, Ernest* Private
Aubert, Charles Sergeant
Auguste, Joseph# Private
Auguste, Mirtile Private
Auguste, Pierre Private
Auguste, T. Private
Augustin, Adolphe* not available
Augustin, Felix* Private
Augustin, James Corporal
Augustin, Omar Sergeant Major
Auld, J. Private
Aurillion, O. Sergeant
Avril, Estave not available
Avril, Gabriel not available
Avril, Ogerauld not available
Avril, P. Private
Aycard, J. Private
Azemar, Joseph Private
Azemar, V. Private
Bacchus, N.J. Captain
Badie, Oscar Private
Balon, Benjamin Private
Balthazar, Paul Private
Bandui, S. Private
Barjon, Dutreuil Private
Barte, James not available
Barte, Oscar not available
Barthe, A. Private
Barthe, John 1st Lieutenant
Basilique, Alfred Private
Bazanae, Alphonse Private
Bazelique, Alphonse Private
Beaulier, J.B. Corporal
Beauver, Joseph Private
Bebelle, Joseph Private
Bechez, Victor Private
Bedout, G.* Corporal
Belsire, Francois Private
Belaire, Louis Private
Belizaire, Engola Sergeant
Bell, J. Private
Belot. A. Private
Belot, O. Private
Belot, Octave Private
Belot, V. Private
Benjamin, A.* Private
Benjamine, Antoine Private
Benot, Joseph Private
Bercier, Manuel not available
Bercy, Edouard not available
Bernard, Eugene not available
Bernard, J.A. Private
Bernard, Joseph Private
Bernard, Jules Private
Bernard, Louis Private
Bernard, W. Private
Berguier, H. Private
Bertonneau, Arnold 1st Lieutenant
Bertrand, Louis Private
Bertrand, Osevis Private
Bertrand, Pierre not available
Bevrotte, Henry Private
Bezou, Henry Major
Bibi, John Private
Bienvenn, E.M. Private
Bijou, A. Private
Bijou, J.* Private
Bijou P. Private
Bijoux, B. Manuel Private
Bijoux, Leandre Private
Birot, J. Private
Blanche, Ernest Sergeant
Bleach, Ernest Private
Blanc, Henri* Private
Blancan, Bienaime' not available
Blanchard, Nichols Sergeant
Blanchard, Orther Private
Blasco, Amedee' Private
Blondin, Charles not available
Bodreaux, Francois Private
Boquille, Ludgere Captain
Boquille, Orther Private
Boquille, Raoul Sergeant Major
Boisdore, Francois Private
Boissiere, J. Private
Bonjeon, J.J. Private
Bonne', L. Sergeant
Bono, Vincent Private
Bonseigneur, Virgil Captain
Boone, Valsin 1st Lieutenant
Boree, Louis* Private
Bosque, A. Private
Bosque, Theophile Private
Botler, Robert Private
Bourgeau, Alfred* Sergeant
Bourjeau, C. not available
Boustillos, Antoin * Private
Boutin, A. Private
Boutte, E. Private
Boutte, L.* Private
Boutte, Valsin* Private
Bovira, Jean Private
Brael, H. Private
Brana, Lucien Sergeant
Brard, Alfred Private
Bresson, W. Private
Brishom, W. Sergeant
Brion, Bazile* Sergeant Major
Bro, Pierre Private
Broca, Jules Private
Broyerd, Henry Corporal
Butler, C.* Private
Cabal, A. 1st Lieutenant
Cadichon, Joseph Private
Caillole, Jean Private
Cailloux, Andre* 1st Lieutenant
Caliste, Joseph Private
Camille, John Private
Camps, J. Jr Private
Camps, Manuel Private
Candi, Joseph* not available
Candiff, Daniel Private
Canelle, Pierre Sergeant
Canelle, Pierre Jr. Private
Canonge, Zephire 1st Lieutenant
Capla, R.V. Corporal
Carlon, L.J. Private
Carlon, W. Private
Carmouche, Louis not available
Carrere, Etienne* Private
Carrere, Joseph* Private
Carrere, Nereston Private
Carrien, A. Private
Cassnave, G. Private
Casimir, Lucien Private
Cassenave, R.C. Private
Cassino, Antoine not available
Casting, Murville 2nd Lieutenant
Castille, Raymond not available
Caston, Arthur not available
Catey, Francois Private
Castane, Joseph Private
Ceressolle, Octave Private
Charbonnet, D.L. Private
Charland, Antone Private
Charles, Joseph* Private
Charles, Pierre* Private
Charmelle, Numa Private
Chateau, Ulysse Private
Chaumette, Earnest Private
Chauivin, T. Private
Chauivin, J. Private
Chavanne, Francis Private
Chenette, G.J. 1st Sergeant
Chenot, Louis Private
Cheron, John Private
Chesse, A.L. Private
Chesse, G. Private
Cheval, Angelin* Corporal
Cheval, Ludger Private
Chevalier, Alexandre Private
Chevalier, Armand Private
Chelalier, Biennemee not available
Chevalier, Jules Private
Cheven, A. Private
Chezan, Sidney Private
Christophe, Firmint Private
Clavic, O.J.B. Private
Clement, Louis Private
Clement, Pierre Private
Clement, Pierre Private
Coffy, H. Sergeant
Coiron, Stanislas Private
Colas, Raphael Private
Compagnon, J.P.* Private
Constant, G.G. Private
Copel, Eugene Private
Cordier, Pierre Private
Coulon, Jean Private
Coulon, Jules Private
Coulon, Prosper not available
Coucelle, Charles Private
Craig, J. Private
Crocker, D. Private
Dabdeuil, Pierre Private
Dallier, J. Corporal
Daniel, Armand* Sergeant
Daquin, Earnest Private
Danstnque, J* Private
Daunois, C.J. Private
Dauphin, Armand Private
Dauphin, Arthur* Private
Dauphin, P.O. Private
David, Belisaire Private
Davis, E[dgard]* Captain
Davison, ? Private
Decoudraux, Charles not available
Decoudraux, Micheal not available
Decoudreau, A. Private
Decout, Adophe* Sergeant
Decout, Armand Private
Decout, Louis T. Private
Decout, Numa Private
Decout, Seneville Private
Decoux, Charles Private
Dede, Francois Sergeant
Dede, Francois Corporal
Dede, Simphorin B.* Private
Defilho, J.B. Private
Degruo, Eugene not available
Delprit, Louis Private
Demoziliere, Louis* Private
De Passan, Charles Private
Depose, Moise Corporal
Derbigny, Theophile 2nd Lieutenant
Dermise, J. Sergeant
De Salles, Philocles Private
Desborde, Joseph not available
Desdunes, Joseph Private
Deslondes, Alcee Private
Deslondes, Joseph Private
Deslosges, Mortimer Private
Dessale, Joseph Private
Dessalles, Davis Private
Dessalles, Felix Private
Dessalles, Jules Corporal
Devigne, Armand not available
Diaz, J. Private
Dinet, Gustave Private
Dinet, Joseph Private
Dinette, Gustave Private
Dionet, J.M. Corporal
Dirionde, Berthelin Private
Docmini, Nelson Private
Dolhonde, Florville not available
Doliolle, Charles not available
Dolliol, G.N. Private
Dolliol, P.B. Private
Dome, Leon* not available
Domingon, Jules Sergeant
Dominque, L. Private
Donfort, Benit Private
Dorgan, Armand Private
Dorson, Andre Private
D'Orville, A. Private
Dorville, Edmond Private
Doyle, H. Private
Droux, Edmond Private
Duberal, J. Private
Duberque, Virgile not available
Dubois, Etienne Sergeant Major
Dubois, L. Private
Dubuclet, Paular Private
Duclaslange, E. Private
Duclaslange, Eugene Private
DuFaux, Francois not available
Duffau, Joseph Private
Dupresne, Jean* not available
Dugue, Charles# Private
Duhart, Armand 1st Lieutenant
Duhart, P.A. not available
Duluc, Etienne Private
Dunford, T. Private
Dupard, V. Private
Dupart, Etienne Corporal
Dupart, John not available
Dupart, M. Captain
Dupart, M.V. Sergeant
Duplessis E. Private
Duplessis, Micheal Private
Duplessis, Nicolas Private
Dupre, Caliste* Private
Dupre, Felix Corporal
Dupre, Lycien* Private
Dupuis, T.O. 2nd Lieutenant
Duquinez, Louis 2nd Lieutenant
Duques, Eugene not available
Duralde, J. Private
Duralde, Jean Private
Durand, Charles not available
Durand, Jean Private
Durant, Bernard Private
Durel, Nums Private
Durie, George Private
Durive, Jules not available
Durousseau, Felix Private
Duthil, Eugene Private
Dutreuil, P. Private
Duval, C.D. Private
Duvernaz, Jean Private
Edouerd, J. Sergeant
Edourd, Joseph Private
Elf, Homere Private
Erie, Joseph Private
Esclavon, Pierre Private
Esuard, G. Private
Esuard, T. Private
Esquianos, Francis* Private
Esteve, Charles not available
Etienne, Jean Baptiste Private
Etienne, Leon not available
Etienne, Vincent Private
Eugene, Elie Joseph Private
Exavier, Francois* Private
Fagot, Victor Private
Farr, E. Ordnance Sergeant
Farrar, Emile Private
Felix, Joseph* Private
Ferbos, Ulysse Private
Ferbos, Victor Private
Ferroy, G. Private
Fernandez, L.*# Private
Fernandez, O. Private
Fernandez, P. Private
Fernandez, P.O. Corporal
Ferrand, Baptiste Jr.Corporal
Ferrand, Baptiste Sr.Sergeant
Ferrand, Bertheleny not available
Ferrand, Jacques* Private
Ferrand, Joseph Jr.* Private
Ferrand, Joseph II Private
Ferrand, Louis Private
Ferrand, Louis SergeantMjr
Filie, Joseph* Private
Fleming, Jean Private
Fletcher, Jean Corporal
Fleuvy, E. Private
Fleuvy, F. Private
Fondal, Joseph Corporal
Fondal, Pierre not available
Fonentes, Manuel not available
Forestier, Jean Private
Formentine, Alexandre not available
Forneret, Leonaerd Private
Fornerette, ?* Private
Fornerette, A. Private
Fornorette, Charles* not available
Forstall, Emile* Private
Forstall, L. Private
Forstall, R.F. Private
Forton, Henry Private
Fortan, Henry Private
Fortune, L. Private
Fouche, Georges Private
Fouche, Louis N. 1st Lieutenant
Foucher, B Sergeant Major
Fournier, Morthilde* Private
Foy, Octave* 1st Lieutenant
Fraisse, Joseph not available
Francis, Edouard Private
Francis, F.* Private
Francois, J* Private
Francois, Jean Louis* Private
Francois, Joseph Corporal
Francois, Ursin* Private
Fredrick, Leon* Private
Frilot, ---- Jr. Private
Frilot, L. Jr. Private
Fuentes, Homer Sergeant
Gabaroche, Eugene Private
Gabriel, Paul Private
Gabriel, Pierre* not available
Gaetan, Charles Private
Gaignerd, Charles not available
Gaillard, Armand Private
Gaillerd, Dominique not available
Galade, Jean Private
Gallatte, Manuel not available
Gallaud, Anatole Private
Galle, Alfred* Private
Galle, D. Corporal
Galle, Dermond Private
Galle, Felix Private
Galle, L* not available
Galleau, T.* Private
Galles, Joseph Private
Garcia, J.B. Private
Garcia, Pierre Private
Gardere, Amedee 2nd Lieutenant
Gardette, A Private
Gardette, Leonce not available
Gasette, J. not available
Gaspard, Joseph Private
Gaspard, Lucien not available
Gaspard, Ph Private
Gaspard, Pierre Private
Gastram, Leopol not available
Gaudet, Louis Private
Gautre, Adolphe Private
Germain, Anatole* Private
Germain, Jean* Private
Gignal, Ellerd Corporal Fourrier
Gilbert, V.* Private
Glapion, C.J.* Private
Glapion, Joseph* Sergeant
Glapion, Pierre Private
Glapion, Telesphore Private
Glaude, P. Private
Glaudin, M. Ordnance Sergeant
Glaudin, P. Private
Godefray, J.P. Private
Godefray, M Private
Godfroid, O. not available
Golard, Joseph Private
Golard, Jules* Private
Golis, Louis Captain
Golis, Numa Private
Gomez, Jules Private
Gondram, D. Private
Gonzales, Armand Private
Gonzales, Florville Sergeant
Gonzales, Gustave Private
Gonzales, Paul not available
Grace, Alexis* Private
Grandpre, C. Private
Grandpre, T. Private
Gravier, Bernard Jr. Private
Gravier, Bernard Sr. Private
Gravier, T. Private
Greffin, B. Private
Gregoire, A.* Private
Gregoire, C. not available
Gregore, Pierre not available
Guadiz, D. 2nd Lieutenant
Guibert, Auguste not available
Guillant, Ernesto not available
Guillaume, Georges* Private
Guillaume, Joseph Jr.* Private
Guillaume, J.V. Sergeant
Guillory, Martin Sergeant
Gustave, Jules* not available
Gut, Phillipe Private
Hains, Charles not available
Hains, Manuel Private
Hardi, Sveriste Private
Hardi, Robert Private
Hardy, Etiennne A. Private
Hardy, Paul Private
Harris, Albert Private
Hazeur, Joseph Private
Hecaud, Benjamin Private
Helliot, Louis Private
Heno, Joseph Private
Henry, Josep Private
Hermann, Ernest Corporal
Hermogene, Thomas Private
Herriman, G. Private
Herrere, Jean* Private
Hewlett, Ernest* Corporal
Hins, H. Private
Hippolyte, Francois* Private
Hippolyte, Louis Private
Hippolyte, P. Private
Hubbart, Williams Private
Hubean, Telefore Private
Hubert, Victor Private
Hubrin, Joseph Private
Jacob, William, * Private
Jacques, Adolph Private
Jacques, Arthur Private
Jacques, Emile Sergeant
Jamet, Eugen Private
Jamet, Felix Private
Jameau, Martin Private
Janeur, Jules Private
Janneau, Baptiste Private
Jareux, Jean A. Private
Jardais, Jean Private
Jardey, John Private
Jean, Henri* Private
Jean, Urein Private
Johnson, Henry Private
Jolbois, Joseph Corporal
Joly, F. Private
Joneau, J. Private
Joniaron, J. Private
Jonkins, Georges Private
Joseph, A.* Private
Joseph, Bazile not available
Joseph, Charles Private
Joseph, Ernest* Private
Joseph, Etienne Private
Joseph, Janvier Private
Joseph, Louis Private
Joseph, Prospere* Private
Joublane, Charles Private
Joublane, L. Private
Joublane, Renauld not available
JuForgue, Armand Sergeant Major
Juin, Andre Private
Juin, Francois Private
Kata, Alexandre Private
Kennedy, Edourd Corporal
Kennedy, Daniel not available
Labattre, Casemir not available
Labbe, E. Private
Labostrie, F. Private
Lacheand, L. 1st Lieutenant
Lacoste, F.U. 2nd Lieutenant
Lacour, ---- Private
Lacroix, A. Tres.
Lacroix, E. 1st Sergeant
Lacroix, V. Private
Lafargue, V. Private
Lafargue, Hippolyte Private
Lafferanderie, M. Sergeant
Lafont, Joseph Private
Lafont, Louis Sergeant
Lafrance, Valsin Private
Lainez, Louis* Captain
Lejoy, Esteve Private
Lalvire, M. Private
Lamothe, Mertile Private
Lamotte, Martin Private
Lanbere, Jules Private
Lananiere, Lucien Private
Lanaux, Paul not available
Lanns, D.A. Private
Lanoy, B. Private
Lanusse, Armand Captain
Lapierre, Francois Private
Laprune, A. Corporal
Larche, Joseph Private
Larche, Mathieu --
Laroche, H. Private
Larose, Desir Private
Laurent, B. Private
Laurent, Joseph Private
Laurent, P. Private
Laurince, Jean Private
Laveaux, Joseph Private
Lavedu, Octave Eli Private
Lavigne, E.* not available
Lavigne, Henry Corporal
Lavigne, Louis Private
Lavigne, V.J.L.* Sergeant Major
Lazare, Louis* Private
Lebreton, Clovis Private
Lee, E. Private
Leger, Auguste Private
Leger, Ovide Private
Legras, E. Corporal
Legros, Erneste# not available
Legros, Jasque Private
Legros, Louis Private
Leon, Edgard* not available
Leon, Thelesfort not available
Lepine, Fredrick Sergeant
Lepine, Joseph Private
Lessasier, Valdes Private
Lespit, Jules Corporal
Levache, P.L. Private
Leveque, Cyprien Private
Leveille, Gerome Private
Leveille, Louis J.* Capor
Lewis, Alcide* Captain
Lewis, Lafayette Private
Lewis, Simon Private
Liantaud, Adolphe Corporal
Liantaud, G. Sergeant
Lino, Manuel Private
Lepal, Alphonse Private
Lorenz, L.* Private
Lorenzo, J. Private
Louck, J. C.F.
Louis, Charles Private
Louis, Joseph* Private
Louis, Pierre * Private
Lubin, Guillaume Private
Macarty, B. Private
Macarty, Jules Private
Macarty, Prosper Private
Mackemma, James Sergeant
Madisou, Eugene Private
Magloire, Casimir Private
Magloire, Joseph Private
Magloire, Louis Private
Maindubourg, E. Private
Maindubourg, O. Private
Mallet, Jules* Private
Mansion, Joseph Private
Manuel, Louis Private
Maran, C. Private
Marc, Murville Private
Marcelin, John* Private
Marcelin, Joseph* Private
Marcisse, Honore Private
Mariginy, G. Private
Marine, Joseph Private
Marine, P. Private
Martin, A. Sergeant
Martin, Agenore* not available
Martin, Joseph Private
Martin, L. Private
Martin, L. Jr. Private
Martin, Louis Jr. Private
Martin, Theo Jr. Private
Massanna, R. Private
Mathaire, Louis Private
Mathe, B. Private
Mathieu, Henri* Sergeant
Mathieu, Henry not available
Mau, Nathaniel Gaspard Private
Maurice, Augustin Private
Maurice, E. Private
Maurice, Micheal Private
Maurice, Washington Corporal
McDonnel, Thomas Private
McKenna, Thomas Private
Mederic, Ludger Private
Meide, Athur not available
Meilleur, F. Jr Private
Meilleur, Gustave Sergeant
Meilleur, Lange Private
Menard, L. Private
Mercada, Francois Private
Mercelle, J. Private
Merlet, ---- Private
Merlleur, Albert Sergeant
Metoyer, H. Private
Meunier, Henry Private
Michel, Antoine Private
Michel, Marc 2nd Lieutenant
Milaire, Joseph Private
Mirabin, Alcede Private
Mitain, Louis Private
Miton, M. Private
Mollay, Pierre Corporal
Mollet, Arthur not available
Monde, Alcide not available
Monde, Alcide Private
Monde, Lolo Jr not available
Mondre, Lucien Private
Monette, J.J. Corporal
Moniaque, Jules* not available
Monrose, Eugene Private
Montesquieux, Leonville Sergeant
Montesquire, Gustave Private
Montieu, Alcee J. Private
Montieu, Alfred J. not available
Montigut, J.F. Sergeant
Montaor, C. Private
Montreuil, J.J. Corporal
Moran, D. Private
Moran, O.D. Private
Morant, C. Private
Moret, J.B. Private
Morette, Eugene not available
Morle, Antoine Private
Mornay, Millien Private
Mornet, Augustin not available
Morphy, Jules not available
Muller, Adolphe Private
Muro, Francois Private
Nell, L. Private
Nicaud, Alcee* not available
Noel, Charles Private
Ogden, Henry D. Lieutenant Colonel
Padoux, Antoine Private
Page, Louis* Private
Paton, F. Private
Patron, J.B. Private
Patterson, Auguste not available
Patterson, Donatien* Private
Patterson, Joseph* not available
Peche, Pierre Corporal
Pedesclaux, Bonny Private
Pedesclaux, Charles Private
Pelebon, Francois Private
Pelissier, L. Private
Penas, Charles not available
Penel, Julien Private
Pepe, Hippolyte* Private
Perche, Eloie 2nd Lieutenant
Perez, A. Private
Perez, Sedro Private
Peroux, Auguste Private
Perralte, A. Private
Perrault, Edgard Private
Perrault, S. Private
Perrez, T.M. not available
Perthelot, Eugene Corporal
Petit, Louis 1st Lieutenant
Phillippe, Urein Private
Philogene, Jacques Private
Picon, A. Private
Picot, C Private
Picotte, Earnest Private
Picou, D. Private
Picou, J. Private
Picoux, Octave Private
Piernas, Antoine Private
Pierre, A.* not available
Pierre, Alexandre Private
Pierre, Eugine Corporal
Pierre, Jacque* Private
Pierre, Leon Private
Pierre, Theodule* Corporal
Pierre, Victor Private
Pignegny, F. Private
Pijeau, Etienne Private
Pinta, Henry Private
Placiencia, Arcene Private
Pledeau, Ogee not available
Plessir, Adolphe Private
Plique, A. Private
Polinard, Pierre Private
Popo, --------- Private
Popte, L. Private
Populus, Armand not available
Populus, Joseph Private
Poree, Earnest* Private
Poree, F. Private
Poree, Francois not available
Poree, M., Jr. Private
Poree, Paul Private
Poree, Nelson not available
Postille, Leon Private
Potenne, A. Private
Potin, Charles Private
Pradas, C. Private
Prevost, Prancois Private
Quessar, Louis* Private
Questas, Joany not available
Quevin, Leonard Private
Quegere, L.P. Private
Quintal, Antoine Private
Rabouin, Adolph Private
Ramos, A. Private
Raphael, Aristilde Private
Rapp, Eugene* 1st Lieutenant
Raymond, Antoine* Private
Raynal, A 1st Sergeant
Rebouil, Henry Corporal
Relf, Samuel Private
Relf, T.E. Corporal
Remy, A. Private
Remy, F. Private
Remy, J.J. 1st Sergeant
Remy, O.* Private
Remy, R. Private
Renier, J.B. Private
Revoil, Arthur Sergeant Major
Rey, Armand Drummer
Rey, Hippolyte Corporal
Rey, H. Louis* Captain
Rey, Joseph Corporal
Rey, Leon not available
Rey, Octave 2nd Lieutenant
Reyes, F. 2nd Lieutenant
Ribaud, Jean Private
Richard, A. Private
Richard, J.# Private
Rieffel, Octave Private
Rivereau, E. Private
Robert, Emile Sergeant
Roche, A.# Corporal
Roche, Julian Corporal
Rochon, Adolph* Private
Rock, Sosthens 1st Lieutenant
Roland, Charles Corporal
Romain, A.* Private
Rouzan, Martin not available
Sabatier, Dorsin Private
Sabatier, Paul Private
Sacriste, J.D. Private
Salvador, Gaspard Private
Samuel, Oscar* Private
Sannon, Theophiles Sergeant
Santos, Leonard not available
Sargosse, Arthur not available
Sarrazin, A. Private
Saulet, Zenon Private
Saulney, E. Private
Sauvinet, A.T. Private
Sauvinet, J.T. Corporal
Sauvinet, S Captain
Savary, Henry Private
Scarpentier, Jean not available
Scarpenter, Joseph not available
Seaux, Eugene Private
Seaux, Isidore Private
Segura, A. Private
Sejour, ------ Private
Sejour, M.* Private
Senac, Antony Private
Sene, T. Private
Senetmanat, Charles* Captain
Servan, Paul Private
Severain, Francois# Private
Severin, Francois Private
Shelly, Theodule Private
Sherissa, Vincent Private
Smith, Lewis Private
Snaer, Auguste Private
Soude, J.B. Private
Soude, J.S. Private
Spaer, Octave Private
St. Ange, Joseph* Private
Stanislas, Louis Private
Sterk, H. Private
Starmand, Joseph Corporal
St. Cyr, Clement Sergeant
Steel, A. Corporal
St. Herman G. Private
St. Ledger, Gustave not available
St. Louis, H.* Private
St. Manat, C. Captain
Sylvestre, Elysee* Private
Taillet, Laurentine Private
Talma, J. Baptiste Private
Tassin, Joseph Corporal
Taylor, Charles Private
Terence, Clement not available
Ternoir, Leon* not available
Tervalon, A.F. Private
Theodore, Crescent Private
Thevenotte, Simon Private
Thezan, Theodore not available
Thibant, Dominique Private
Thiodore, A. Private
Thiot, Armand Corporal
Thomas, Antoine Private
Thomas, Louis Private
Thomas, Pierre Private
Thomassin, Benjamin Private
Thomatisse, Alexander Private
Thomatisse, Leonice Private
Thompson, Joseph* Corporal
Thompson, Pierre Private
Tomlinson, E.* Private
Toregane, Micheal Private
Toregane, Oscar Private
Torigane, Colastin Private
Torresse, Justave not available
Toussaint, Auguste Private
Toussaint, Auguste* Corporal
Toussaint, Joseph Private
Trepagnier, Francois* Private
Trerigne, R. Private
Turpin, J. Private
Ulysse, Charles Private
Urquhart, C.V. not available
Valentin, Oscar Private
Valery, Oscar Private
Valet, Desir Private
Valmour, ----- Private
Vancression, L. Private
Vegue, C. Private
Venture, J Private
Verdon, L 1st Lieutenant
Victor, Arthur Joseph Private
Victor, Nicholas Private
Vidal, F. Private
Vidal, J.F. Private
Vierra, Louis* Private
Vignaud, Etienne not available
Vignaud, Joseph not available
Vincent, Eugene Private
Vivant, Louis, Jr. not available
Voisin, Ferraud Private
Voltair, Jacques Private
Wale, William Private
Warburg, Daniel Private
Washington, J. Baptiste Private
Willard, M.* Private
Willard, Robert* Private
Xavier, Benjamin Sergeant Major
Zamora, John Private
Zegg, E. Private
Zenon, Joseph Private
Zenon, Victor Private
Zino, Nicolas not available
Zuezere, L.P. Private
THE NATIVE GUARDS' BLACK OFFICERS
Black Officers in the Union Army During the Civil War
During the Civil War, more than 125,000 men served as commissioned officers in
the volunteer army of the United States. One hundred and eleven of these men
were black, ninety of whom served in combat units. Of these combat officers,
almost all served in the Louisiana Native Guards. The story of black officers
in the Union Army during the Civil War is therefore the saga of the
seventy-six men who held commissions in the Native Guards.
There have been several attempts to identify black officers who served in the
Native Guards. This task is not as easy as it might appear. The service
records of Civil War soldiers normally do not contain information regarding
race. Although reference to an officer's race may appear in a letter of
resignation or other correspondence, one must infer whether an officer is
black on the basis of other information.
Below is a list of the black officers in the Native Guards. It comes from
company muster rolls on the day each regiment was mustered into service as
well as the military service records of every officer who served in one of the
three regiments of the Native Guards. This list of black officers is probably
as accurate as any that exists today.
Name Rank Regt. Resigned Comments
Barrett, William B. CPT 2nd 07/20/63 Resigned for reasons of prejudice.
Belley, William CPT 2nd 04/05/64 Resigned, not qualified by Board.
Bertonneau, Arnold CPT 2nd 03/05/63 Resigned for reasons of prejudice
Bourgeau, Alfred 1LT 1st 03/07/64 Recommended for promotion in Oct. 1863.
Butler, Charles 2LT 1st 04/04/63 Medical discharge, "rheumatism."
Cailloux, Andrew CPT 1st 05/27/63 Killed at Port Hudson.
Carter, Edward CPT 1st 10/21/63 Medical discharge, "piles."
Carter, Hannibal CPT 2nd 05/30/63 Resigned, S. O. No. 126.
Case, George R. CPT 1st 02/11/64 Medical discharge, "deafness."
Chase, Edward P. CPT 2nd 05/30/63
Resigned, S. O. No. 126.
Crowder, John 2LT 1st 05/27/63 Killed at Port Hudson.
Davis, Edgar CPT 1st 09/01/63 Trans. to 91st USCT & resigned.
De Gray, Louis 1LT 2nd 05/30/63 Resigned, S. O. No. 126.
Depass, John CPT 1st 02/27/63 Resigned to return to England.
Depremont, Peter O. 2LT 2nd 07/17/63 Resigned, no reason given.
Detiege, Emile 1LT 1st 09/25/63 Resigned for reasons of prejudice.
Dumas, Francis E. MAJ 2nd 07/03/63 Resigned, no reason given.
Fleury, Alphonse, Jr. 1LT 2nd 04/04/63 Medical discharge, "sickness."
Fog[y], Octave 2LT 1st 03/30/63 Discharge for "physical disability."
Follin, Joseph CPT 1st 02/29/64 Resigned for reasons of prejudice.
Forstall, Leon G. CPT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Gardiner, Peter A. CPT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Gibbons, Charles W CPT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Gla, Jacques Adolph CPT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Glover, Calvin B. 1LT 2nd 05/30/63 Resigned, S. O. No. 126.
Hardin, William 2LT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Hays, Solomon 2LT 2nd 02/18/64 Resigned, "ignorant, unable to learn."
Holland, John C. CPT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Hubeau, Ernest 1LT 2nd 01/22/63 Resigned, no reason.
Ingraham, James H. CPT 1st 03/22/64 Recommended for promotion in
Oct. 1863.
Isabelle, Robert H. 2LT 2nd 03/05/63 Resigned for reasons of prejudice.
Jones, Joseph 1LT 2nd 07/13/63 Resigned, no reason given.
Keeling, William F. 1LT 2nd 02/24/63 Dismissed by board, S. O. No. 55.
Lanien, Louis, D. 1LT 1st 06/03/63 Resigned, but no service record.
Latting, John W. 2LT 2nd 05/30/63 Resigned, S. O. No. 126.
Lavigne, Victor 2LT 1st 09/05/63 Transferred to 91st USCT & resigned.
Lawrence, Samuel CPT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Lesassier, Valdes 2LT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Lewis, Alcide CPT 1st 08/26/63 Dismissed for cowardice, S.O. No. 211.
Lewis, James CPT 1st 03/14/64 Medical discharge, "piles."
Longpre, Ernest 1LT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Louis, Jules P. 2LT 2nd 04/04/63 Medical discharge, "sickness."
Mallet, Jules 1LT 1st 09/05/63 Transferred to 91st USCT & resigned.
Martin, Theodule A. 1LT 2nd 08/15/64 Medical discharge, "scurvy."
Merillion, Monroe CPT 2nd 02/24/63 Dismissed by board, S. O. No. 55.
Montieu, Joseph L. 2LT 1st 09/01/63 Transferred to 91st USCT & resigned.
Moore, James E. 2LT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Morphy, Ernest 1LT 2nd 03/05/63 Resigned for reasons of prejudice.
Morris, Morris W. 1LT 1st 08/27/63 Resigned on death of father.
Moss, Ehurd 1LT 1st 03/14/64 Resigned to avoid being discharged.
Oliver, Joseph C. CPT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation, "excellent officer."
Orillion, Oscar 2LT 1st 08/03/63 Missing-in-action near Jackson, LA.
Paree, Paul 1LT 1st 08/11/63 Medical discharge, "rheumatism."
Parker, Joseph G. 2LT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Petit, Louis 1LT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Pinchback, P. B. S. CPT 2nd 9/11/63 "Only col'd officer" at Fort Pike.
Rapp, Eugene 1LT 1st 09/27/63 Resigned, no reason given.]
Rey, Henry L. CPT 1st04/06/63 Medical discharge, "disease."
Rey, Hippolyte 2LT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Rey, Octave 2LT 2nd 03/05/63 Resigned for reasons of prejudice.
Ringgold, Samuel W. CPT 2nd 07/20/63 Protested make-up of Examining Board.
Sauvinet, Charles S. 1LT 2nd 07/11/65 Promoted to Asst. Quarter Master.
Schermerhorn, Charles 2Lt 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Scott, Lucien 2LT 2nd 02/24/63 Dismissed by Board, S. O. No. 55.
Sentmanat, Charles CPT 1st 10/02/63 Transferred to 91st USCT & resigned.
Snaer, Louis A. CPT 1st 11/27/65 On duty at the end of the war.
St. Louis, Hyppolite 2LT 1st 08/26/63 Dismissed by Banks.
Tervalon, Francois 1LT 3rd 02/19/63 Mass resignation.
Thibaut, Louis A. 2LT 1st 08/26/63 Dismissed by Banks.
Thompson, Jasper 2LT 2nd 05/30/63 Resigned, S. O. No. 126.
Trask, Frank L. 2LT 2nd 02/21/64 Dismissed, left guard post.
Villeverde, Joseph CPT 2nd 08/15/64 Dismissed by Board, S. O. No. 215.
Warfield, Charles 2LT 1st 02/27/63 Resigned, "benefit of the service."
Watson, George F. 1LT 2nd 05/30/63 Resigned, S. O. No.
Wellington, Joseph 1LT 2nd 05/30/63 Resigned, S. O. No. 126.
Wilkinson, Samuel J. CPT 2nd 07/20/63 Protested make-up of Examining Board.
PUBLIC OFFICES HELD BY BLACK OFFICERS
Barrett, William B. 1833-1915 LA free literate barber, editor La. House of
Representatives, 1870-72
Bertonneau, Arnold 1834-1912 LA free literate merchant Assistant internal
revenue collector
Carter, Hannibal 1835-? MS free literate barber, merchant Miss. House of
Representatives, 1872-73
Davis, Edgar C. 1830-1917 LA free literate cooper La. House of
Representatives, 1870-72
Detiege, Emile 1840-? LA free literate mason La. State Senate, 1874-76
La. House of Representatives, 1877-80
Dumas, Francis E. 1837-1901 LA free literate clothing store owner
ran unsuccessfully for several offices; Engineer on federal levee
project.
Gla, Jacques A. 1833-1894 LA free literate planter La. State Senate, 1872,
1874-80
Ingraham, James H. 1832-1876 LA slave literate carpenter, editor La.
Constitutional Convention of 1868 Surveyor of the Port of New Orleans
Isabelle, Robert H. 1837-1907 LA free literate clerk, lawyer, editor
La. House of Representatives, 1868-70 New Orleans Police Department
Lewis, James 1832-1914 LA slave literate police officer Captain, New Orleans
Police Department Delegate to Republican Nat'l Conven. 1872
New Orleans City Council 1873 Administrator of Public Works
Morphy, Ernest C. ?-? LA free literate ? La. House of Representatives,
1870-72 Recorder of Births, Marriages, & Deaths for Orleans Parish,
1873-?
Oliver, Joseph C. 1832-? LA free literate lawyer La. Constitutional
Convention of 1868 Sheriff, St. James Parish, 1871
Pinchback, P. B. S. 1837-1921 LA free literate businessman, editor lawyer
La. Constitutional Cenvention of 1868 La. State Senate, 1868-71
Lieutenant-Governor, 1872 Acting Governor, 1872-73 various appointed
offices, 1870s &1880s
Rapp, Eugene 1836-1922 LA free literate tailor Captain, New Orleans Police
Department
Rey, Henry L. 1831-? LA free literate clerk La. House of Representatives,
1868-70
Rey, Octave 1837-1908 LA free literate cooper Captain, New Orleans Police
Department
Sauvinet, Charles S. ?-? LA free literate cashier Sheriff, Orleans
Parish, 1870-72
This information was absracted from Eric Foner (ed.), Freedom's Lawmakers: A
Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction (Baton Rouge: Louisiana
State University Press, 1993 & 1996 [paperback]).AFTER THE CIVIL WAR
Note: This website for the Louisiana Native Guard can be found at
http://www2.netdoor.com/%7Ejgh/index.html
There are many photographs at this site and if you have interest in
the people mentioned in this file you will want to visit the website.